Beverly Public Schools

School Library Media Centers Long Range Planning Guide, 2003-2008

September 2001

Plan Development and Methodology

The following is a planning document for the school library media centers of Beverly Public Schools.  It is the result of a series of meetings during which the current and future state of the library media centers was discussed.   The meetings were attended by a variety of interested people, including library media specialists, school administrators, school committee members, parents, volunteers, teachers, and public librarians.  The planning process began in the fall of 2000 and meetings were held throughout the 2000-2001 school year on professional development days as well as evening and after-school meetings at the Beverly Public Library and at Beverly High School.

Beverly has had a history of cooperation between school and public libraries. In 1998 the Beverly Libraries for Learning, a joint public and school library group, was formed, with a mission to raise the level of student achievement by enhancing and expanding library services in Beverly.   This group formed the base of the Long Range Planning Committee, which was expanded to include many other interested members of the community.

Initially, Library Media Specialists brought available descriptive data concerning each school’s program to the early meetings.   This information was brought together to describe the current state the districts library media program as a whole.  Internal and external descriptions of Beverly Schools and Beverly as a whole were also considered.    Once this information was collected the committee began the brainstorming process.   This was aided by documents such as 1.) examples of plans submitted by other Massachusetts school districts, 2.) planning guides from the Mass. Board of Library Commissioners, 3.) Information Power (American Library Association), 4.) MCAS and School Libraries:  Making the Connection (Simmons College), 5.) Standards for School Library Media Centers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Massachusetts School Library Media Association), 6.) Flexible Scheduling Policy (Massachusetts Department of Education), 7.)  Accreditation Report for Beverly High School (New England Association of Schools and Colleges), 8.) Beverly Libraries for Learning:  Mission and Objectives, 9.) Mission statements of Beverly Public Schools and individual schools.

Purpose for planning

The primary purpose of planning for the school library media centers in our school district is to articulate the goals and vision for our programs for the purposes of funding, organization, coordination, and to establish equitable services and expectations for all students in Beverly. 

Community Profile

Beverly has a population of approximately 38,000.  Median household income is $39,603.  Per capita income stands at $18,436.  The percentage of families below the poverty level is 6.6%.  The population is primarily white middle class.  A large number of citizens of French Canadian descent live in Beverly, along with sizable contingents of Italians, Irish, English, and Scots.  Recently, the city has seen a small, but growing Hispanic population. 

Financially, the district per pupil expenditure is $5592 vs. a state average of $6276;  80% of local resources are spent on education;  and 59% of property taxes are allocated to education.

The impact of school library centers on MCAS scores has recently been the topic of discussion in the press and the profession.  A Simmons College study published in October 2000 of 519 schools in Massachusetts found that "at every level, schools with library programs have higher MCAS scores."  In addition, "at each grade level, students score higher on MCAS tests when there is a higher per pupil book count."  Finally, the study drew a direct correlation between the presence of a full-time professional librarian and levels of access to the library media center on MCAS scores.

Beverly, like all communities in the Commonwealth, has had to undergo significant changes in its curriculum due to MCAS requirements.  These changes include new areas of instruction, and in some cases the elimination of other areas of instruction, presenting library media centers with the task of aligning their collections with these topical areas

Currently, library media programs in Beverly vary considerably.  There are different special programs offered through each school's library media center.  Some schools do not have library media centers, some share Library Media Specialists.   In recent years much progress has been made in terms of staffing and facilities.  Along with school renovations several elementary LMS have been hired;  not long ago there were 2 LMS that covered all seven elementary schools. By 2003, all seven elementary schools will have gone through various levels of construction.   The district building plan includes a provision that by this time all schools will be equipped with a library media center as well as a full-time library media specialist.   Programs may change dramatically from year to year, particularly in terms of funding and in the way the library media specialist’s time is utilized. 

Abraham Edwards Elementary School Library Media Center

Edwards’ Library Media Center is open on Mondays and Wednesdays.  On other days there is no library media specialist. Edwards is the oldest operating school in Beverly (it was built in 1912). There are 247 students enrolled.  In June 2002, Edwards will close its doors and students will be redistricted to the Cove and the Ayers Ryal Side Schools. Hannah participates in the Reading is Fundamental program.

Ayers Ryal Side Elementary School Library Media Center

During the 1998-1999 school year, Ayers Elementary School was completely updated, renovated, and doubled in size.   It now serves a population of 450 students.  Along with reconstruction came a brand-new library media center and a full-time Library Media Specialist, who also manages the computer lab.  Ayers is a member of the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System (NMRLS).

Centerville Elementary School Library Media Center

There are currently 337 students enrolled at Centerville Elementary School.  The library is housed in a former supply closet and is shared with 20 computers which impede access to parts of the collection.  There is a part-time Library Media Specialist.  Centerville is slated for renovation in 2002-2003.  The Library Media Center is a member of the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System (NMRLS).

Cove Elementary School Library Media Center

Cove Elementary School is the latest school to undergo renovations.   The school is also characterized by strong parental involvement and academic success.    It currently serves 270 students. There is a full-time teacher who is responsible for the library and computer lab.  The Library Media Center is a member of the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System (NMRLS).

Hannah Elementary School Library Media Center

Hannah’s recent renovation included the construction of a brand-new Media Center and the addition of a full-time Library Media Specialist.  There are 3 computers for student use and one teacher computer.  The library is adjacent to the computer lab.  Hannah serves 370 students.  The Library Media Program participates in Reading is Fundamental, Accelerated Reader, and includes a pre-school story hour for Title 1 students.  Hannah is a member of the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System (NMRLS).

McKeown Elementary School Library Media Center

McKeown opened its doors for the first time in September 1998.  It has a state of the art library media center with a growing collection of books.  Like the Hannah Library Media Center, the facility is adjacent to a computer lab.  McKeown serves a population of 260 students.  The Library Media Center has 4 computers for student use and one for the librarian's circulation and cataloging use.   McKeown is a member if the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System (NMRLS).

North Beverly Elementary School Library Media Center

North Beverly Elementary is currently being renovated. Closed for the 2001-2002 school year, the students are attending school at the McKay building.  Plans are to hire a full-time staff member to run the Library Media Center and the computer lab.'>

Briscoe Elementary School Library Media Center

Briscoe, one of the oldest schools in the district (built in 1923), was once Beverly High School until 1967.   Currently, 600 students attend.   There are plans in the not-too- distant future for renovations.   At this time the library participates in the Accelerated Reader Program.   Briscoe is a member of the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System (NMRLS).

Memorial Middle School Library Media Center

Built in 1954, Memorial is the youngest of the two middle schools.  There are 520 students enrolled.   The Library Media Center has ten computers and 5,000 books.  Teachers and students access the Llibrary on a flexible schedule basis and the Library Media Specialist plans and facilitates information literacy lessons that are integrated with the classroom curriculum.  Memorial also participates in the Accelerated Reader program.  Memorial is a member of the Northeast Massachusetts Regional Library System (NMRLS).

Beverly High School Library Media Center

Beverly High School, which serves a population of about 1400 students, operates on a flexible access schedule, offering information in a variety of formats in order to teach students media literacy and research skills in both class visits and independent visits.  Scheduled class visits vary from week to week.  The library also features a unique archives room dedicated to preserving the history of Beverly Schools.   It is a member of NMRLS.

Student access to LMC's

The ways that students access LMC's differs across the district.  At the elementary level, where LMC's operate on fixed weekly schedule, students visit the library as part of their regular schedule.  Students see the LMS regularly.  However, as the library media specialist is essentially covering for the classroom teacher's prep-time, there is no 'formal' expectations for what students should be doing.  This may be attributed to a lack of a formal library skills curriculum as well as planning time with teachers to optimize opportunities to integrate lessons.

The middle school libraries, which operate on a flexible schedule, offer one-on-one as well as class instruction to classes whose teachers decide to visit the library.  The same is true for Beverly High School, the only difference being that students can access the library using a pass during an independent study period. 

At all schools, there is a short time before and after school during which students may independently visit the LMC.

Teacher access to LMC's

Teachers visit the library independently during their prep time (every teacher is allowed a certain amount of prep time according to their union contract).  Teachers may sign up to use the library services, including those of the library media specialist, during times when the library is not otherwise scheduled.  At the elementary level, these "free" blocks of time are infrequent.  Since the library and the librarians have fixed schedules, this time period is usually what they would normally use for their own prep time and for library administrative duties.  At the middle and high school levels, teachers use the library on a first come, first serve basis.  The high school library has a small but growing professional collection.

Flexibly accessed programs

The elementary programs operate on a “fixed” schedule, where the Library Media Specialist and the facility is on a regular schedule.  Each week, Elementary Library Media Specialists cover 45-minute blocks of teacher prep time.   Although there is no curriculum in place, this time is spent teaching information literacy skills.  Unfortunately, this leaves minimal time per week for all other aspects of library administration, including book ordering, program planning, collection maintenance, collaboration with other teachers, and any other non-teaching activity.  In elementary schools, the scheduled 45 minute blocks include book circulation, skills lessons, story times (depending on grade), or author studies and other elements of literacy programming.  Skills lessons involve the library collection, computer technology competencies, and/or internet activities.  In some cases, Library Media Specialists teach computer classes in the computer lab. 

The secondary schools operate on a “flexible” schedule, where the staff and facility are available according to the needs of the school, for both independent study and instruction.  Scheduled class visits vary from week to week according to needs.  Much research has shown that school libraries are much more effective when their school adopts a flexibly accessed library policy.

Cooperative planning

Cooperative planning between teachers and library media specialists exists on a limited basis.  At no school does the LMS meet regularly with teachers, except at general faculty meetings.   Teacher-LMS interaction occurs on an individual basis, depending on individual initiative.  For example, teachers that wish to schedule their class in the library may decide to meet with the LMS prior to the visit to coordinate the lesson plan.  However, there is no formal, regular system in place for cooperative planning.

Curriculum development

LMS's are sometimes involved in informal curriculum development with classroom teachers.  Elementary LMS's have volunteered to participate in curriculum development when invited to do so.

Technology in the LMP

Ayers, Hannah, McKeown, and Beverly High School are using Athena for their circulation systems.  As schools are renovated, they are converting to Athena for their circulation systems.  Presently, cataloging and circulation are in various stages of functionality.  At Beverly High School, most of the collection has been cataloged.  At Memorial, an aged catalog system exists which is only marginally useful for finding books. 

Schools that are members of NMRLS (Hannah, McKeown, Ayers, Beverly High School, Briscoe, Memorial) access state-funded databases such as InfoTrac and SIRS Knowledge Base (magazine and reference databases), the Boston Globe (back to 1980), electronic encyclopedias, Electric Library, and others.  Students have access to some CD-ROMs, (such as DISCovering World History, DISCovering Multicultural America, Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, Encyclopedia of World Cultures, and '>MasterPlots Complete at the high school).  Beverly High and McKeown both have useful websites for research, and other LMC websites are in developmental stages.

At the high school, some English and Social Studies teachers bring freshman classes to the library for orientation.  Technology in the context of the library is introduced. However, this is usually part of a 1/2 hour library introduction.  And again, there is no formal, regular plan for freshman orientation, and each student's participation depends on the decision of his/her teacher.

LMC involvement in reading programs and literacy development

Presently Library Media Specialists have limited involvement in formal curriculum development with reading programs or literacy development programs.   Library Media Specialists offer support for these programs by purchasing reading material based on informal conversations with reading teachers and/or students.  Cooperatively planned reading initiatives are sometimes coordinated with the reading and/or classroom teachers including book fairs, special reading weeks and days.  All school libraries meet with public librarians to compile a suggested reading list each spring.

Budget

The amount allocated to each school library media center varies widely.  Schools that have recently undergone renovation or construction were allocated seed money to establish collections.   The district recently set aside money for secondary schools to upgrade collections over the next two years.  However, at the time of this writing most of the elementary schools and Memorial Middle School have no funding allocated in their building-level budget, underscoring a disparity in programs.

Vision

The vision of the library media centers of the Beverly Public Schools is to provide every student with a foundation for lifelong learning and ensure that students and staff are effective users if ideas and information.

Mission

The library media centers of the Beverly Public School System offer a wide variety of programs and services centered on reading and information literacy which:

• promote access to a variety of media, including print, non-print, and electronic formats;
• provide instruction in the location, evaluation and use of information;
• stimulate student interest in reading;
• support the curriculum of the schools.

Five Year Goals & Objectives

Goal 1: Ensure that all students are information literate by the time they graduate.

·        Objective 1: Develop a set of competencies for information literacy by grade level.

·        Objective 2: Using the Frameworks, develop a plan to integrate skills instruction into specific subjects/units.

·        Objective 3: Implement skills instruction curriculum.

·        Objective 4: Evaluate skills instruction curriculum.

Goal 2: Acquire adequate print and non-print resources to fully support the curriculum and stimulate student interest in reading.

·        Objective 1: Increase library media to meet state standard for per-pupil spending district-wide (5% of total per-pupil budget)

·        Objective 2: Investigate and prepare grant requests that focus on collections.

·        Objective 3: Develop collections that adequately support and reflect the curriculum.

Goal 3: Provide flexible and equitable access to library media resources.

·        Objective 1: Formalize a policy/philosophy for flexible access in all school libraries in the district.

·        Objective 2: Implement flexible access in all school Library Media Centers.

Goal 3: Provide flexible and equitable access to library media resources.

·        Objective 1: Formalize a policy/philosophy for flexible access in all school libraries in the district. 

·        Objective 2: Implement flexible access in all school Library Media Centers.

·        Objective 3: Ensure that all students in all schools are able to use their school library on an as-needed basis.

Goal 4: Develop curriculum units focused on library skills instruction.

·        Objective 1: Collaborate with classroom teachers and public librarians in the development and implementation of curriculum units that require library research.

·        Objective 2: Develop formal curriculum units that foster library skills (in conjunction with classroom units).

·        Objective 3: Implement formal curriculum units.

Goal 5: Establish a level of staffing that is consistent with state standards and each school's size and needs.

·        Objective 1:  Report staff recommendations to the school committee using state standards.

·        Objective 2:  Research and acquire other sources of funding for staff.

·        Objective 3:  Provide at least one certified full-time Library Media Specialist for each school.

Goal 6: Increase collaboration with community, cultural, and other institutions.

·        Objective 2: Identify and meet with other organizations which support the mission of the Library Media Centers.

Year One Action Plan

Action Plan for Goal 1 & 4:

1.      Develop a set of competencies for library skills by grade level by spring of 2003.

2.      Distribute and collect reservation request/assignment/class visit forms/research request/ library reservation request to teachers.

3.      Meet with school administrators to schedule regular common planning time with teachers.

4.      Develop formal curriculum units that foster library skills in conjunction with classroom units by spring of 2003.

5.      Implement formal curriculum units in the fall of 2004.

6.      Meet with public librarians to coordinate collection development and programming based on curriculum units.

Action Plan for Goal 2:

1.      Investigate possible sources of funding for library materials and present findings to appropriate district personnel by fill of 2002.

2.      Prepare grant requests for funding of materials by spring of 2003.

Action Plan for Goal 3:

1.      Work with school administration to adopt a formal policy for flexible access in all school libraries in the district by the spring of 2003.

2.      Implement flexible access in all school libraries beginning in the fall of 2004.

Action Plan for Goal 5:

1.      Prepare a report for the district with recommendations for staffing by the fall of 2002.

2.      Investigate alternate sources of funding (grants, federal funding, etc.) for staff by fall of 2002.

3.      Present report to school committee in spring of 2003.

Action Plan for Goal 6:

1.      Create a schedule of regular, city-wide library meetings by the fall of 2002.

Last updated 11/29/01